Fruit-basket



' and inside.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE0 L. IV. BEECHER, OF N EW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

FRUIT-BASKET.

Specification forming part of LettersP-atent No. 42,923, dated May 31, 1864.

To a/ZZ wtom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, L. VHEELEE BEECHEE, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Baskets; and I do hereby declare the following, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure l, a side view; Fig. 2, a central vertical section; Fig. 3, the bottom of the basket, and inFig.- 4 the side as lying flat.

My invention relates to an improvement in fruit-baskets in which the side is formed from thin, narrow strips of wood secured singly to a solid wood bottom, and extend up and are secured at the top by means of a hoop outside Heretofore the strips have been made and secured separately to the bottom of the basket.

My invention consists in forming the strips from one continuous piece of wood-that is, that the several strips are from the manner of forming them connected together-whereby much time and labor are saved in the manufacture ot'this description of baskets; also, in constructing the bottom with a ledge around it, onto which the strip is set for the purpose of preventing the bottom being forced up and split in transportation, and also as a guide in setting the side.

To enable others to produce my basket, as well as more fully to illustrate my invention, I will more minutely describe its construction by reference to the accompanying drawrings.

I rst form the bottom A from a piece of wood the proper thickness for the size of the basket, usually round. Upon the edge, and projecting from the under side, I form a ledge, a. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) I form the side from a thin piece of wood or other suitable material the proper width to extendl around the bottom and of the length required for the height of the basket. I then slit or cut into the said piece, as seen in Fig. 4, cutting several strips at one operation and to the depth at which I desire the flare to commence, leaving all the strips cut connected together at the bottom. I then set the lower or whole edge of the strips upon theledge,bend them around and secure it to the bottom by nails or other device for properly securing the same. Thel'side being in one piece, the slats preferably spread, I am able to secure them much faster than when the slats are separated, as in the usual manner. I place a hoop, c, around the bottom, secured in any well-known manner. I then spread the slats, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, place a hoop, d, of the proper size, inside and a second hoop7 f, outside, secured in like manner, and my basket is complete, and much stronger, owing to the connection of the slats and the projecting ledge described, than the common basket of similar appearance.

Having therefore fully described my invention, what I claim as new is l. Constructing the bottom of baskets with a ledge, as described, for the purpose specitied.

2. Constructing the side of baskets from a single piece of material, substantially as described.

L. W. EEECHEE.

XVitnesses:

M. B. SCOTT, JAMES M. PiEEroNr. 

